EP. 633: SURVEILLANCE IN SCHOOLS ft. ALLISON BUTLER

Get the book here: https://www.routledge.com/Surveillance-Education-Navigating-the-Conspicuous-Absence-of-Privacy-in-Schools/Higdon-Butler/p/book/9781032812274?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwiaa2BhAiEiwAQBgyHs2MhoYab7Ld9RsFDkbYalCEXtkGqrxcuAPG34rqoksz0pRsI4c6yBoCbjkQAvD_BwE&fbclid=IwY2xjawE7fnNleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHcECBrn52bD-ZHA7es_QxesJuquayVNSc9fwp4bnhZsOFO5M0p6RoA8QAw_aem_RtfSDNDMjqwT9CJVbvM-1w

Surveillance in Schools 

 

Introduction

 

In an era where alienation and loneliness have become almost normalized, the proliferation of surveillance technologies in our daily lives is both alarming, pervasive and sadly, accepted. These technologies are not only prevalent in our streets and workplaces but have also seeped into our educational institutions, raising critical questions about privacy, autonomy, and the very nature of schooling. Surveillance systems in schools claim to enhance safety by identifying potential threats, from school shooters to students exhibiting signs of suicidal ideation. However, the validity and ethical implications of these claims are hotly debated. Are these technologies truly protecting students, or are they contributing to a culture of mistrust and control, much like the predictive policing tactics used by law enforcement? 

 

Today, we are joined by Allison Butler and Nolan Higdon, authors of the insightful book “Surveillance Education: Navigating the Conspicuous Absence of Privacy in Schools”. Their work delves into the complex and often troubling landscape of surveillance in educational settings, exploring how these practices affect not just safety, but the very essence of learning and human development. As Higdon and Butler point out, "In a society increasingly defined by surveillance, schools have become testing grounds for technologies that monitor, predict, and control behavior, often at the expense of students' rights and well-being." We will explore the implications of this surveillance, asking whether it is a necessary precaution or a net negative that deepens the sense of alienation and distrust in an already fragmented society.

 

Please welcome our guests Allison Butler is a Senior Lecturer and Director of the Media Literacy Certificate Program in the Department of Communication at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, USA. She is also Co-Director of the Mass Media Literacy non-profit organization, where she develops and runs training programs for teachers covering critical media literacy in K–12 schools, Vice President on the Board of the Media Freedom Foundation, and a spokesperson for Project Censored. Her research focuses on critical media literacy and critiques of surveillance technologies in education.

 

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